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Category: illness

During the past airing of our stay-cation illness shuffle, I thank my readers for bearing up with my/our tales of woe. I know some things are a little bizarre, such as doctors, but hey, I guess it comes with the golden years.

It can be rather frustrating, with everyone going away on vacations and cruises and the like, and we were happily home. I really think God was laughing when he was deciding to make us stay home and rest. By that, He meant doctor’s offices and urgent care!

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I have some issues percolating, and am bothering my GI’s office trying to get my appointment moved up.I told them how bad I felt and the bast they could offer my was May 30th.

Hello, Emergency Room? That’s what it’ll be if I get another attack and can’t be seen earlier.

In the meanwhile, I managed to comedown with severe chest congestion over Easter.With the internet being a blessing or curse, I figured out I might have pneumonia or severe bronchitis. Hah! I had an appointment this morning with a new Internist who said, basically, my lungs are congested but my sinuses are pretty well screwed up? Excuse me? I have a cough that sounds like I smoked a pack of Pall Malls daily for 58 years, and only had sinus symptoms last night and this is the diagnosis?

**Shaking my head**

I realize I don’t have a medical degree, but I think I know my body. I am hoping that the combination of prescriptions will work their magic.If not, well…stay tuned!

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Whenever I seem to post something on Facebook, I often have a comment or two made by people who always have seem to have an “answer” for everything.

President of another party that isn’t theirs? “Not my president.” Things happening to friends of yours? “What did they do to cause it?” It gets to where I don’t necessarily want to stop people from posting on my Facebook wall, but it has given me reason to shy a little bit away from Facebook.

I got news today about someone in my life who is ill.That is all that I am going to say about it, because sometimes that is all that needs to be said. It does give me reason to wonder about the people who would comment, and what would happen to them if they, God forbid, became ill. I am sure the cause would be everyone’s fault but theirs.

It is hard to see friends combat illness. What even makes it more difficult is when there is physical distance between people. It would be nice to be able to help out, but unfortunately, help can only be offered from a distance as best as friends can. Sometimes prayers and good thoughts on one end are appreciated, and sometimes, people just need someone to listen to them and their problems.

Anyway you slice it, caregiving long distance is still caregiving. Granted, it’s not “hands on” caregiving, but the care is there, just the same. It is what friends do for each other.

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This was an anniversary between me, God,Jefferson University Oncologic-Gynocolgy department and Dr.Charles J.Dunton,not to mention other doctors, nurses, staff, my best friend Kate and religious advisors.

I was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer 23 years ago today.What an experience! Doctors, nurses, having to call my parents from the hospital to inform them that I wasn’t coming home because a grapefruit was found in my cervix and I needed exploratory surgery.Then came the pain of them coming to see me in the hospital and seeing the pain and fear in their eyes.That pain I will take with me to my last day.Kate was living in Pittsburgh at the time and drove back on the weekends when I was in for my chemotherapy.

I usually make a post on this every year to show the people who might “think” or”know” they have cancer.You really can’t ignore it. You need to take a pro-active stance on trying to get the invader out of your body.I went through a radiation and chemotherapy protocol that was so effective that it is now the standard for cervical cancer treatment.You never know.

If you have a friend or family neighbor going through the disease, be supportive, if they choose to tell you about it.Let them know you’d like them to be around for a good,long time.

So, rather than giving in to pain, I got up at 6:30am this morning and, as a result, had a heck of a lot more time to do things during the day.

The girls got a few walks, everyone who needed medicine got it, worked in baking an apple cake and a pork tenderloin, and also did a little bit of wash.

As I haven’t been back to work yet, I figured I’d try to get some older clothes together and bundle them up for charity.The week will end up on Friday when I have to go back to the infectious disease doctor for an update.I would assume that after that, I’d go back to the orthopedic doctor one more time for a sign-off.It is an assumption, because realist that I am, I KNOW that anything that CAN go wrong, will.

Today, however, was a Blessed day.

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I couldn’t sleep too well last night in anticipation,or should I say,dread, of today’s office visit with the orthopedic doctor.That doesn’t really speak too well of him, as he is a good guy and I am comfortable with him.

I awoke around 2:30am, after falling asleep around 12, and when I woke up, well, that was it.I knew I had packed a bag with hospital essentials and dreaded the fact that I might have to use it

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When I got back to the exam room, he came in and greeted me and looked at my knee.The big question, although he could see where the knee was lightening up, was if the antibiotic would be enough for one more round of it.He had prescribed one 750mg pill every day for two weeks.He really had a twinge of concern in his voice, and said he wanted me to go see an infectious disease specialist to see if I needed something stronger.When he said that, my heart sank.I really, really did not want to get admitted, although the logical part of my brain and my past experience knew that it was probably likely.Once he announced that the infectious doctor used a lot of IV antibiotics, well, it was if a cinder block settled in my gut.

Fortunately, the new doctor’s office was not that far away, but I was so worked up that even my blood pressure was working its’ way to run off the roof. Fortunately, the doctor was a nice guy and after all was said and done, I was able to come home with Jim and my “nurses”, deeply appreciative that I would be putting my head on MY pillow tonight.In the grand scheme of things,I was content.

Here are my nurses, both above and below.

So a big thank you to all who have read my posts on the cellulitis I am going through, and thank you for your prayers, beads worked, and good wishes sent my way.Trust me, they are deeply appreciated.I go back to the infectious disease doctor a week from today, so please keep them coming!

Since I’ve been sick I’ve been as far as the perimeter of the front yard and back yard, although Jim and I snuck out real quick for some banking this afternoon: it was a car ride so it really didn’t count!

We have spectacular sunsets down here at the bay, and I have to admit, there are times where I’d just be too tired, and I figured I’d walk down to the bay tomorrow and, like mass transit, “catch the next one.”

I don’t think I’m going to be missing them once I get better.The key here, though, is to actually BE better so I can walk down and catch them. I know the girls miss being out, and being in the yard, for them, is a lousy substitute.

The girls are with me as I type this, and Zush is lying low and Kasia is looking out the window for her dad. I have a lot of mileage to make up with them!

Is there a magical time when you become an adult? Moving out of your parent's house? Paying your first bill? Getting married? Having kids? Turning 30? We are still figuring it out and writing about our journey along the way!